This vote was on a procedural motion on a resolution establishing the rules for debate for a bill to grant whistleblower protections to federal employees and contractors who expose waste, fraud and corruption.

Prompted by the failure to expose faulty intelligence prior to the Iraq war, the bill aims to make it easier for federal employees to expose wrongdoing without repercussions for their own jobs. The bill would grant most federal employees the right to have retaliation claims heard in federal court. The measure's protections also cover employees of federal contractors, airport screeners and government scientists who claim retaliation for reporting undue political influences or other corruption.

This vote was a motion ordering the previous question, which is a parliamentary maneuver that effectively ends debate, prohibits amendment and moves the House to a vote for an up-or-down of the resolution under consideration. If the motion for the previous question is defeated, the House in effect turns control of the floor over to the lawmaker who led the opposition to the question at hand, usually a member of the minority party. As such, motions to order the previous question are usually party-line votes, and the majority party almost always prevails.

Such was the case for this vote, and all Republicans present voted against the measure and all Democrats present but one voted for it, and the motion passed 224-197.

Thus, a resolution outlining the terms for debate for a measure to grant whistleblower protections for federal workers and contractors moved one step closer towards a final vote on the measure itself.